REVIEW: Flirting with Fate by J.C. Cervantes

**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley (thank you, Penguin Teen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**

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Book: Flirting with Fate (Flirting with Fate #2) by J.C. Cervantes

Release Date: April 19, 2022

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Rep: Mexican-American protagonist and side characters, bisexual side character; (Mexican-American author)

CW: death of a grandmother, mentions of parent abandonment and death of parents (due to a car accident)

Summary: Jane the Virgin meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes’s charming, romantic YA debut.

Ava Granados will never forgive herself for being late to her beloved nana’s deathbed. But due to a flash flood that left Ava in a fender bender with a mysterious boy, she missed her grandmother’s mystical blessing–one that has been passed between the women of her family upon death for generations.

Then Nana’s ghost appears with a challenge from beyond the grave. As it turns out, Nana did give Ava a blessing, but it missed its target, landing with the boy from the night of the storm instead. Was it fate? Ava refuses to believe so. With the help of her sisters and Nana’s rather bumbling spiritual guide, she’s determined to reclaim her share of the family magic and set Nana free.

For guarded Ava, befriending some random boy is the last thing she wants to do. She’s gotten along just fine protecting her heart–keeping people at a distance is a great way to ensure no one ever hurts you. But as Ava embarks on her mission to retrieve the lost blessing, she starts to wonder if getting close to thunderstorm boy is worth the risk.

In her swoony, heartwarming young adult debut, New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes weaves an unforgettable tale about family, fate, and finding love where you least expect it.

When I first read the summary of this book, I was immediately intrigued. Mystical blessings and fated meetings? Count me in. Flirting with Fate was an adorable story about fated encounters, mystical blessings, and the strength of family bonds.

Ava Granados and her sisters Viv and Carmen have been waiting for their blessings bestowed by their grandmother on her deathbed. After a few false alarms, Ava arrives late to receive her own blessing after accidentally crashing into Rion‘s car. Her grandmother’s ghost, and her guide St. Medardus, later appear to her, telling her that her blessing was accidentally sent to the boy she hit that night — and that she must get it back lest her grandmother be cursed to wander forever in purgatory without her memories. Ava must then befriend Rion and figure out how to transfer the blessing back.

I really liked the concept of this book! Every matriarch bestows blessings to their daughters (or granddaughters in this case) on their deathbeds. Viv and Carmen get persuasive skills and perfect memory, respectively. Fate also plays an important role in this book, which you see in the first chapter and gradually throughout the entire story.

The characters were great; Ava is a bit guarded against love after her mother left their family years ago. She also does not believe in fate, but she has to get over all of this in order to befriend Rion. They gradually grow closer. I also liked her relationship with her sisters. The three of them are obviously so close and provide so much support for each other. She also has such a strong relationship with her grandmother.

The romance was cute! Ava and Rion clearly click from the beginning, and I really liked reading their conversations. The plan technically doesn’t require her to fall in love—just to form some bond with him—but she can’t help but fall in love with him over time.

Overall, Flirting with Fate was a cute story that details fate’s hand in the characters’ lives. I liked the characters and the romance, although I’m not sure what the second book will be about if Ava is still the protagonist. If you’re looking for a cute contemporary novel with a touch of magic and fate, you should check out Flirting with Fate!

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About the Author: Jen Cervantes is the NYT bestselling author of THE STORM RUNNER series, FLIRTING WITH FATE, (April 2022) FRACTURED PATH, (July 2022) THRONE OF SAND (Oct. 2022)
She believes in magic. Loves football. Always roots for the underdog.

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